Thomas kennedy masks



(No Model.)

T. K. MARKS.

TRUSS BRIDGE. No. 346,118. Patented July 27, 1886.

A I I I 5.

n. PETERS, PhoXo-Lilhugraphar, Wzshmglbm 11c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS KENNEDY MARKS, OF CORNERSVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO V. M. DAVIS, OE SAME PLACE.

TRUSS-BRIDGE.

FJPECEFIC'ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,118, dated July 27, 1886.

Application filed November 20, 1885. Serial No. 183,i40. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: receiving-nuts 0, whereby the tension can be Be it known that l, THOMAS KENNEDY regulated as desired. MARKS, a citizen of the United States, resid- E designates a series of three or more uping at Oornersville, in the county of Marshall rights or posts, which are arranged and supand State of Tennessee, have invented a new ported equi-distant apart on the rods or cables and useful Improvement in Truss-Bridges, of O D, the posts being fitted over the rods and which the following is a specification, referproperly secured thereto by straps and bolts., ence being had to the accompanying drawings. F'designates a series of vertical tension-rods,

My invention has relation to improvements secured at theirlowerends to horizontal trans- [0 in trussbridgcs; and the novelty consists of verse supporting-rods G, the upper ends of the peculiar construction, combination, and each of the rods F having a cap, H, and an arrangements of parts, substantially as hereadjusting-nut, F, bearing thereon to force the inafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed same downwardly. out in the claims. I designates inclined braces, which are se- T The invention has primarily for its object cured at their lower ends to the columns A B to provide a device of the character named, and at their upper ends to the caps H; and I which is especially adapted for bridging small are similar inclined brace-rods, which cross rivers and streams and between elevated doors the braces or rods I and are secured at their of warehouses and the like; to provide means upper ends to the columns A B and at their 20 for taking up the slack in the tension of the lower ends to the upper end of the uprights or rods and braces; to provide a system of braces posts E. The lower ends of the brace-rods I, which shall serve to strengthen the device and intermediate of two adjacent posts or uprights, prevent any undue Vibration of the bridge, E, are secured to said uprights, and the upand to combine simplicity, strength, and duraper ends are secured to the caps H, and at the 2 bility of construction with thorough effectivepoint where the diagonally-arranged diverg- 5 ness of operation. ing brace-rods of each pair cross each other In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is they receive a short threaded shaft or tensiona side elevation of my improved truss-bridge. rod, J, the shaft or rod connecting the bars of Fig. 2 is a top plan view; and Fig. 3 is a side each pair together, and receiving nutsj and a c elevation of another form of bridgeconstructed sleeve, j, which latter is arranged between in accordance with my invention, and espeand bears on theinner faces of the rods or bars cially designed to be constructed from wood. I, to limit the inward movement thereof.

Referring to the drawings, in which like let- The supporting-rods G are arranged transters of reference indicate corresponding parts versely across from one pair to the other of 5 in all the figures, A B designate the two main the rods 0 D, and are secured thereto in any 8 supporting posts or columnsarranged in pairs suitable manner, and the ends of said rods are on opposite sides of ariver, stream, or between extended beyond the rods 0 D and the up" the walls of two warehouses, to connect one right posts E, and are provided with eyes with the other. said rods G serving as supports for the string- 0 I will only describe the intermediate supers, on which the bridgefloor is laid. o porting devices and. braces between one of each K designates a Vertical brace-rod, one being pair of uprights or columns, which are located provided for each of the rods G F, the lower on opposite banks of a stream, &c., it being end being passed through the eye g, and reunderstood that the fellow columns of each pair ceiving a tightening-nut, It, and the upper end 5 are connected in substantially the same mair having a bent arm, is, that is connected to the ner. rod F, between its cap H and the nut F, as

G D designate two rods, which are preferclearly shown. ably arranged parallel with each other, and L designates two longitudinal brace-rods connect the columns A 13 together, the ends that are disposed on opposite sides of each of 50 of the rods passing through the columns and the columns A B, one end of each rod being too secured to one column and the other end secured in any suitable manner to the lower'portion of one of the uprights or posts E.

M designates short inclined and diagonallyarranged braces located between two adjoining posts, E, the lower ends thereof being secured to said uprights and the upper ends meeting and fitted on a common shaft or rod, M, that bears in the braces L and receive nuts. m, whereby the tension of the braces L M can be taken up and increased, as desired.

N designates transverse diagonal brace-rods arranged beneath the floor of the bridge and secured in the uprights E on opposite sides of the door, as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I show a wooden bridge which has the same essential and characleristic features, namely: the columns A B, the tension-rods O D, the uprights E arranged on the rods, the transverse supportingrods G for the floor of the bridge, the vertical tensionrods F, and the brace-rods K, connected to the rods G and F in the mannerbefore described.

0 designates horizontal beams arranged be tween and secured to two adjoining upright posts, E, in any suitable orprcferablc manner, and having strengthening-straps 0, bolted to the uprights E; and P designates inclined beams arranged between the columns A B and the uprights E, adjacent thereto, as shown.

Q designates diagonally-arranged brace-bars secured at their lower ends to the beams O P, and at their upper ends they are connected to the upper ends of the rods F and to strapbraces Q, the nut F bearing on said strapbraces and the brace-bars.

R designates brace-bars arranged below the beams O, and secured thereto at their upper ends and to the lower ends of the posts E; and S are inclined brace-rods secured at the lower ends of posts E, adjacent to the columns A B, and secured to said columns.

T designates short inclined braces arranged beneath the inclined beams P and secured to said beams and the columns A B, as shown. The several braces are connected and secured together and to their supporting-columns, uprights, and beams by means of straps and bolts, and by the arrangement and construction described I provide a system of braces which very firmly strengthen the bridge and prevent undue vibration ofthe parts thereofwhen a loaded team or vehicle, 850., passes over the same.

U designates top braces to connect and strengthen the columns of each pair A B.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a truss-bridge, the combination of the columns A B, the rods 0 D, supported therein, the upright posts E, secured to the said rods, the transversely arranged floor supporting rods G, secured on the rods 0 D, the vertical tension-rods F, and the diagonally-arranged braces connected with the rods F and the uprights E, substantially as described.

2. In a truss bridge, the combination of the columns A B, the rods OD, supported therein, the upright posts supported on said rods, the floor-supporting rods G, the vertical tensionrods F, having the adjustable caps H, and the diagonally arranged braces connected to the caps, the uprights E, and columns, substantially as described.

3. In a truss-bridge, the combination of the columns A B, the rods 0 D, the upright posts secured on the rods, the transverse]y-arranged floor-rods G, the tension rods F, having the nuts and caps, the brace-rods K, connected to the extended ends of the rods G and arranged between the nuts and caps of the rods F, the crossing diagonally -arranged brace rods secured to the caps and uprights and diverging outwardly at their lower ends, and transverse adjusting rod J, connecting the braces at the point where they cross between the uprights, substantially as described.

4. In a truss-bridge, the combination of the columns A B, the rods 0 D, uprights E, supported on the rods, the longitudinalbrace-rods L, secured to the uprights and columns, the inclined braces M, secured to the uprights at their lower ends, and the supporting-shaft M, to which the upper ends of the braces M are connected, and which bears in the rods L, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signaturein pressence of two witnesses.

THOMAS KENNEDY MARKS.

\Vitnesses:

S. T. TALLY, JAsv D. 000K. 

